Posted by Civilian Capall McKenzie (Colonial Intelligence Agent) in McKenzie/Edman Land - The End Of The Beginning

Posted by Civilian Michael ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie (Clan McKenzie Chief) in McKenzie/Edman Land - The End Of The Beginning

Posted by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) in McKenzie/Edman Land - The End Of The Beginning
Posted by… suppressed (25) by the Post Ghost! 👻
=/\= So that’s where we are at, Mike. She didn’t want to say anything. She knew you had a lot on your plate and a life that has just changed and shifted in so many ways. She didn’t want to burden you. =/\= The speaker was an older human male who was obviously very tired.

Michael ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie sat in his office in the newly built Chief’s Manor on the grounds of the McKenzie -Edman clan; new arrivals to Oed V. And while new arrivals they were, the entire planet had already felt the effects of their presence. Mike turned from the screen and looked out the window. Outside was grass and trees and other plant life where, just six months earlier, had been nothing but dust and rock… the remnants of a broken world. A world slowly coming back to life thanks to the efforts of the colony. *So much positive… and now this. I should’a known it was too good to last * he thought to himself.

Mike turned back to the screen and said “Thanks, Oddvar. I really appreciate you letting me know. I’ll tell the others… then the Clan.” He paused as a lump the size of his fist formed in his throat. “Di-… did the doctor’s say how long?” Oddvar nodded and said =/\= A few weeks, maybe a month. She’s not in any pain, and her mind is still sharp as ever. =/\= and he chuckled even as years began to appear in his eyes. =/\= Tongue too, if she ever finds out I told ya. =/\= Mike chuckled and then said “Oh hell no, old man. We are not gonna start crying together. We save that for the next time we share a bottle.” Oddvar nodded as he wiped his eyes with a shaky hand. =/\= Look at ya… year in the job as Chief and you think you can tell people what to do. =/\= Mike chuckled and said “I know… I totally let the power go to my head.” and then both men laughed long and hard. When they finished, Oddvar looked at Mike and said =/\= Ok. I’m gonna head up and see how she is doing. I’ll keep you posted. Take care of my girls… and my boys. =/\= and he waved and the screen went blank.

Mike leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. Tears formed, but didn’t fall. After all, he had told his uncle-in-law that they couldn’t cry until they were drinking. And no Chief worth a damn would ever give an order he didn’t expect to follow himself. So instead, he pressed the comms and sent a message.

“Ok, brothers and sisters. It’s been far too long since we sat down to dinner together.” he said to the recording. “So tonight we eat together. All of us… no excuses from anyone. Seamus, you and Ragna bring a case of mead. I want everyone here at seven sharp. That’s an order. See you all tonight.

Michael ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie, Clan Chief

Revna walked into his office not even a minute later. “Wow has our life changed. I get a dinner invite by comm message instead of in person and an order to boot?” Revna laughed, unaware of the devastating news that Mike had just received, but knowing something was not quite right. She walked over to him, slipping her arms around his shoulders from behind and kissed him right below his ear. “So, should I go ahead and clear our calendars for tomorrow since Seamus and Ragna are bringing more than a case of mead?”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

Mike looked up at her… and the tears welled up again. “Yeah… please. Except… except block off two o’clock tomorrow for all of us. We… we’re gonna have to address the Clan. And don’t ask, Rev… not right now, okay? Wait till everyone is here and I’ll tell everyone at once. I just… I don’t think I can go over it multiple times. Okay?”

Revna slipped around the chair and settled on his lap. She stared into his eyes. Worry and love in her gaze. She wanted so desperately to ask what was wrong, but instead she gently leaned in and kissed the corners of his tear filled eyes. She pulled him into her and held him for a long time. “Whatever you need Mike. I’m with you.”

At some unspoken agreement, much later, Revna sat up and turned to his computer console. She cleared their schedules and sent out a notification to the whole clan for an announcement at 2 the next day.

Runa and Ragna had both confirmed they would be there. Runa was happy for the distraction after a long week filled with toddler meltdowns and a surge in new kinds of seasonal allergies from the area of new plants the children had never been exposed to before. Needless to say, not much was taught or learned that week. Mike’s message didn’t read like a formal event but it WAS an order. Capall had no idea what was going on, so the only thing they could do was show up.

Ragna hemmed and hawed over which meads to bring. What was Mike having served? What was the occasion. His message was an order if she ever heard one. Maybe she should save that one bottle for when she knew Mike was in a good mood? She was used to people getting short with her and ordering her around and being irritated, even when she was trying not to be annoying. People weren’t usually like that with her sisters. And Mike didn’t order Seamus and Capall around. There was nothing to do, but go and find out.

Runa, ECE Director

At seven exactly the three couples - Mike and Revna, Capall and Runa, and Seamus and Ragna - all took their seats in the dining hall. As the food was served, Mike looked at the chef and said “Tasgall, tell everyone we are not to be disturbed for any reason, okay? Lock the door behind you.” The chef looked at Mike confused for a second, and then said “Uh, yeah. Sure thing, sir.” and he withdrew and locked the door as he was instructed.

Mike picked up a glass of something dark brown in color and drained it. He looked at the table, and his family, and then took a deep breath. He refilled the glass from an unmarked bottle and then took a long drink. “Gimme a sec… sorry.” and he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Michael ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie, Clan Chief

Revna reached over and placed her hand gently over his, silently supporting him. She could only think of a few things that would make him this upset, and they all made her stomach hollow.

Revna, Lady McKenzie

Runa knew Mike fairly well. They had bonded over too many crazy antics in his bar, and she had never seen him like this… except once. Well almost once, when he and Revna had stopped talking and she had set the bottle of bourbon on the bar. She looked at Capall, then Revna, Ragna, and Seamus. No one else seemed to have any idea what was going on.

Ragna’s hand reached out and held onto Seamus’. She couldn’t fathom what would make Mike have that look on his face. She’d seen him drink a lot, but the way he threw those two glasses back was different. She wasn’t sure she was the one to say anything, but despite her temper, Ragna loved fiercelyand loyally. And Mike was her brother more than anything else. She glanced at Seamus again before speaking, “Whatever you need Mike. We’ll do whatever we can.”

Ragna McKenzie, Herald

Mike took another long drink and then set the glass down hard. “Okay listen. Oddvar called me this morning. There’s… Ya see, the do-…” and he took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. This time the tears didn’t stay, but fell from his eyes into his beard.

The girls froze. Uncle Oddvar? Their parents? Was it there parents? They lived basic, rough; accidents happened all the time.

“Lady Tara… she’s dying.” he said softly.

There was a roaring in Ragna’s ears. She didn’t hear that right. Mike misunderstood. Tara was one of the fiestiest women she knew.

Revna sat shocked for a moment. No. Absolutely not. Mike only just got her back. She wasworking on plans to bring Tara out to visit to surprise Mike. She blinked as her vision went blurry.

Runa tucked her hand tight onto Capall’s arm and put her head in his shoulder, her other arm wrapping around his stomach.

Mike took another breath. “So she has apparently been sick a long time. Like… years and years a long time. Some kinda degenerative thing from an illness she picked up. She isn’t in pain, and she is still mentally all there. Docs said she has three weeks. She doesn’t know we know. Oddvar told me so it would just be dropped on us. So… yeah. We’re gonna lose her.” He fell silent, spinning the empty glass on the table while his mind was somewhere far off.

Michael ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie, Clan Chief

Revna moved from her chair so she could wrap Mike in her arms. Of course Tara would hide it. She’d had to for years from those vultures. Revna would like another go at the cousins - with her sword, not her shield wall.

The room was silent with thick shock and heavy grief. No one made a sound. Ragna hid her face in Seamus’ chest, holding him even as grief took her breath. The silence was broken as a heartbreaking sob ripped from her.

Ragna McKenzie, Herald

Seamus held her tight to him, and just rocked her gently. No words would matter right now. He looked at Mike and his heart froze. Is he ever gonna catch a break? he asked himself. Mike looked back at Seamus and then Capall. Tara was their grandmother, too. This wasn’t just his grief to bear. He nodded at Seamus, then at Capall

Seamus McKenzie - McKenzie Clan Marshall

Revna looked at Ragna, held tightly under Seamus’ arms. She was closest to Tara of the three of them. Tara had seen Ragna in a way others didn’t. And Seamus, he had fought beside Tara his whole life. They had protected the clan and Mike together, just the two of them.

Her eyes traveled to Runa and Capall. Runa had one hand placed on Capall’s cheek and stretched up and brushed her lips across his cheek. Capall had only recently gotten close to Tara, after seeing the lues his parents had woven. To lose her so soon. She met Runa’s eyes and shared her twin’s pain.

Revna wrapped her arms around Mike and held him. It wasn’t fair that Mike had finally gotten her back, to lose her like this. Life was rarely fair, and death was a certainty no matter how sad. “What can we do? Do you want to go home? I have a few contacts that may be able to pull it off.”

Capall was stunned for a long moment. It just couldn’t be… Lady Tara was… she was… well, she was invincible. At least to him. This just couldn’t be. He held Runa close and then softly cleared his throat. “If I may…” he began. “I think we should have her wake now; so she can be a part of it. Lady Tara gave her soul to put us all here. She saved the Clan. We should let her know that we are grateful.”

Capall McKenzie - CIA Technical Specialist

Mike looked at him for a long moment… and then he grinned. “Yes. HELL YES. That’s a great idea, Capall! We can celebrate her now, let her see and hear how much she wants to us. And to show her that the Clan will endure. That she won.”

Michael ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie, Clan Chief

“I agree,” Revna said quietly. Runa nodded, and Ragna just cried, but her head nodded against Seamus’ chest. “I imagine she will berate us all for making such a big deal.”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

“And a big deal it will be, too.” Mike said with sudden determination. “Rev, you and Runa and Ragna coordinate with the Edmans back home. I want everyone at the manor day after tomorrow. Bring tents, bring food, bring booze. Seamus, you get a hold of whoever you left in charge of the grounds. Make sure they are ready for the Edman side of the family to arrive. Capall, I need you to get vid screens and comms set up between here and there. And I mean big viewers. Like arena sized. I want everyone here and everyone there to see and hear everything at both places. That means drones, cameras, vid crews… the works. Okay?”

Seamus nodded and squeezed Ragna. “You got it Mike. I’ll make sure they know ta expect ‘em and not to set up where Lady Tara can see ‘em.”

Capall took a deep breath and then said “Of course, Michael. I will make sure everything is arranged.”

Mike looked around the table and said “Ok, then. Now eat, guys and gals. We have a long few days ahead of us.”

Michael ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie, Clan Chief

Runa nodded and spoke softly, “We’ll get it done, Mike.” Runa was probably Tara’s least favorite Edman girl, but Runa loved her. Loved pushing her buttons and sparking that feistiness inside the old woman. Runa got a kick out of how Tara always skillfully put her in her place too. Runa respected the Nine Realms out of her too. She wished she could have known Tara when Tara was a younger woman. They probably would have burned the worlds down together.

The meal was quiet and subdued. Ragna thought once about sharing stories about Tara, but she didn’t think any of them were quite ready for that yet. They needed to process the grief first before they could laugh and joke, especially Ragna. She looked so heart broken, she just wanted to bundle her up like when she was a little girl.

Ragna suprised her though when about halfway through the meal she got up and left the table and walked across the room. She came back with a bottle of honeyed whisky and sat down. Her voice was not steady and it lacked the fierce fire it always had, “Seanmhair told me this was her favorite.” She inhaled sharply. “Do you think we could have a glass for her?”

Runa, ECE Director

“Pour seven glasses.” Mike said with a pained smile. “And from now on, we keep a glass on the table in her honor.”

Michael ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie, Clan Chief

Ragna looked around the room, unsure of where to find an extra glass. Revna got up and moved across the room to the unopened crates. Their house may be built, but they were far from unpacked.

She returned with a beautifully hand carved wooden cup. Flowers and knotwork covered it. It was elegant like Tara. She set the glass down on the table next to Ragna.

Ragna filled the cup and then set it in the middle of the table. Then she rounded the table filling everyone’s glass with three fingers of whiskey before sitting back down.

Ragna McKenzie, Herald

Seamus was the first to raise his glass. “To our grandmother. And to continuing the cause she dedicated her life to… keeping the Clan safe and whole. To Tara.”

Seamus McKenzie - McKenzie Clan Marshall

Ragna lifted her glass, staring at the one fir Tara in the middle of the table. “To Tara,” her voice was whisper soft and chocked. She took a slow sip and let it burn the knot out of her throat as it went down.

Revna and Runa raises their glasses as well, “To Tara,” and took healthy swallows of the deceptively smooth whiskey.

Mike nodded and took a sip. He looked around the table and then, out of nowhere, he said “I love you, guys. Family isnt something I’ve had a lot of… not like you all have had. So I really appreciate all that each and everyone of you has done… and sacrificed… and devoted yourselves to to make this possible. And family or not .. I will always have your backs. All of ya. Always.” and he took another drink.

Michael ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie, Clan Chief

Revna set a hand over his and held his gaze for a long moment before meeting Capall Runa, Seamus, and Ragna’s gazes. “We will never not be family. No matter what challenges we face, we’ll do ot together.”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

“D@mn straight,” Runa said taking another sip of her glass. Runa wouldn’t be Runa, the problem child of the clans, if she left it at that. “Hey, so Mike, does this mean I’m finally family and get free drinks at the bar?” Her eyes twinkled at him, but he could feel the love and care that came with the question.

Runa, ECE Director

Mike looked at her for a long time and then said “Only if Capall is with you. I trust him to not burn the place down.” and he grinned at her. “You, not so much.”

Michael ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie, Clan Chief

In a rare moment of humor, Capall looked Mike dead in the eye and said “If the lady requests a fire, then the lady gets a fire.” Both Mike and Seamus just stared at Capall for a moment… and then both burst out laughing.

Capall McKenzie - CIA Technical Specialist

Runa winked over at Revna as the men laughed. Then she eaned over and kissed Capall’s cheek. “I knew there was a bad boy hiding under all that genius.” Then she looked over at Mike, “Well as much as Revna and I enjoy a bonfire, the only fire I’m interested in starting with Capall is for behind closed doors.” Then she winked st her husband.

Runa, ECE Director

“Oh no! I remember what the two of you did, playing with a bonfire!” Ragna looked horrified and jabbed Seamus in the ribs, “We gotta make sure Rory and Nora installed top of the line fire suppression systems in both their houses. Something that automatically goes off when the temperature rises 2 degrees.” She lifted her glass and took a drink. “I mean Capall was bragging about how Runa can’t talk after. If Runa can’t talk, then they can’t walk. They’ll die before they get help.”

Ragna McKenzie, Herald

Seamus grinned at Ragna and said “Look who’s got jokes!”

Revna laughed, “We were KIDS!”

Ragna looked at Seamus innocently, “Who said I was joking?”

“I don’t care. Seamus has worked too hard to restore the land for Runa and YOU to go crazy with one of your schemes. Don’t think that I didn’t notice neither of you took Mike and Capall to southern end of Bømlo. You’d have to explain to much.”

Revna narrowed her eyes at Ragna, “Are you threatening me baby sister?” Revna laughed harder when Ragna shrugged. She was glad to see Ragna relaxing around them all. She knew the move had been exceptionally hard for her.

“Fire suppression, Seamus. Everywhere,” Ragna said.

Revna, Lady McKenzie

“Aye, lass… I hear ya and I’ll obey.” He then looked at Mike and said “By the way… the arboretum is almost done. We could do the celebration there. The trees are already filled out. Might make everyone feel less .. apart. Ya know?”

Seamus McKenzie - McKenzie Clan Marshall

Mike nodded. “Hell yes. That’s a great idea.” He took a big drink and then he rapped his knuckles on the table to get everyone’s attention… especially Runa, who was distracting Capall. “Now listen… this is gonna be all about Tara. And we’re gonna show her how much we love her and how much we got a grip on all of this. But… we need to keep something in mind.” He looked at Capall. “When she’s…”and he took a steadying breath. “When she is no longer with us… you think the others will try anything? They’ve been really quiet this past year, but that kinda worries me.”

Michael ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie, Clan Chief

Capall looked down at the table, his glass clenched in his hand. ‘The Others’ Mike referred to were his parents and his direct aunts and uncles. They had used Capall’s intellect and technical expertise to try and usurp the Clan leadership; and we’re stopped by the assembled six people sitting at the table. But their victory was due, and no small part, do the information Capall had delivered to Tara. “I don’t know, Michael.” he said after a moment. He then looked up at Mike and said “But I damn sure wouldn’t put it past them. We should have contingencies in place… just in case.”

Capall McKenzie - CIA Technical Specialist

“We do, and they will,” Revna said with absolute conviction. “Mike isn’t the only one with connections. Mine just don’t happen to be media sensations.” She grinned and slipped her hand into Mike’s. “I’ve been at my job for a long time. They weren’t going away without a fight. I have friends keeping an eye on them. I’ll contact them tomorrow and get the files on their current activities. Now, as for contengy plans, Oddvar and Da have been taking care of it. All new security protocols are ready to be put in place. Oddvar has looped Blair in on it. Mom has had Astrid working on the legal documentation to keep them tied up if they try anything. We made sure before we left that all their financial assets were seized. So they will need friends to fund them. If needs be, with what Capall gave us, I can have them arrested in a few days.” She met Seamus and Ragna’s eyes. “We could lure the here and have some fun.”

Runa looked at her twin with shock at the absolute steel and anger in her voice. Revna chuckled darkly. “I can be blood thirsty if needs be.”

Revna, Lady McKenzie